Icelandic Sheepdog
冰島牧羊犬
Updated 2026-09-09
At a glance
The Icelandic Sheepdog is Iceland's only native breed, a just-under-medium spitz brought by Norse settlers to herd sheep and round up ponies. Cheerful, friendly, inquisitive and unafraid, it is very intelligent and eager to please, but it is a barking herder that wants to be with its people all day and does badly if left alone for long stretches; the dense double coat sheds heavily twice a year.
Facts
| Size | Medium |
|---|---|
| Height | 38–48cm |
| Weight | 11–16kg |
| Life expectancy | 12–14years |
| Breed group | AKC: herding FCI: 5 |
| Role | Herding |
| Coat | Double coat |
| Shedding | 3/ 5 |
| Exercise | 30–120min/day |
| Can be left alone | up to 3 hours |
| Companionship need | 5/ 5 |
| Trainability | 5/ 5 |
| Barking | 4/ 5 |
| Good with children | 5/ 5 |
| Good with other dogs | 4/ 5 |
| Heat tolerance | 2/ 5 |
| Cold tolerance | 5/ 5 |
Health
This page is general information compiled from published sources. It is not veterinary, legal or purchase advice. Dogs vary within a breed — talk to a vet or a reputable breeder about the dog in front of you.
Health notes are not veterinary advice. Conditions listed are those reported for the breed, not a diagnosis of any dog. Always consult a veterinarian.
Hip dysplasia
Commonly reported in the breed; breeders screen hips by X-ray. Ask your vet about hip screening and about keeping your dog lean and fit.
Elbow dysplasia
Commonly reported in the breed; breeders screen elbows by X-ray. Ask your vet if you notice front-leg lameness, especially in a growing dog.
Patellar luxation
Patellar luxation (slipping kneecaps) is commonly reported in small breeds; breeders screen for it. Ask your vet if your dog skips or holds up a hind leg.
Behaviour
Cheerful, vocal herder
The Royal Kennel Club describes the breed as gentle, intelligent, lively and confident, able to recognise individual sheep and travel long distances to bring back lost members of the flock. The AKC rates barking 4/5 — it was bred to work by barking — and calls it enthusiastically devoted to its humans.
Easy to train, hates being left alone
The AKC says Icelandics are lively, intelligent and eager to please, so generally easy to train, but they do not respond well to harsh corrections and are unhappy if regularly left alone for long periods. The CKC calls it lively, affectionate and quite trainable, adapting to suburban or country living.
Energy and exercise
Energy level is rated 4/5 (high) on the AKC breed-trait chart. The Royal Kennel Club puts its exercise need at "up to 1 hour per day".
Training and barking
AKC trait chart: trainability 5/5, barking level 4/5. Individual dogs vary; early socialisation and reward-based training are recommended for every breed.
Official guidance
Summaries of official documents are ours; the source is linked. Breed standards, laws and licensing rules change — check the issuing body for the current version.
American Kennel Club — Icelandic Sheepdog
Breed overview, breed-trait chart, history, official standard summary and health notes from the AKC and the national parent club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
Canadian Kennel Club — Iceland Sheepdog (Herding Dogs)
Origin, temperament, activity level, height/weight, coat and grooming as described by the Canadian Kennel Club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
The Royal Kennel Club — Icelandic Sheepdog Imp
Breed characteristics (size medium, exercise up to 1 hour per day, lifespan over 10 years).
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
FCI nomenclature — Icelandic Sheepdog (standard no. 289, group 5)
FCI breed nomenclature entry with the official breed standard PDF in English, French, German and Spanish.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
What owners say
Owner advice is quoted from public community posts and reflects those owners' opinions, not PocketPaw's position. It is unverified and not a substitute for professional advice. Each item links to where it was said.
“On the parent club's temperament page an Icelandic breeder describes an affectionate, curious, lively dog that is extremely social — it will be your shadow indoors and out, needs close human contact and does not do well kennelled; it is soft-tempered and stressed by rough training, barking is part of its make-up, it is patient with children and usually only needs moderate exercise. Members' own comments list separation barking as the main dislike.”
— Icelandic Sheepdog Association of America — Temperament via breed clubWorldwide2026-09-09
Sources
- [1]Icelandic Sheepdog — Dog Breed Information — American Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [2]Iceland Sheepdog — Choosing a Breed — Canadian Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [3]Icelandic Sheepdog Imp — Breeds A to Z — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [4]Icelandic Sheepdog — FCI standard no. 289 — Fédération Cynologique Internationale (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [5]How do I help my dog adjust to spending time alone? — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [6]Incidence and risk factors for heat-related illness (heatstroke) in UK dogs under primary veterinary care in 2016 (Hall, Carter & O'Neill, Scientific Reports 10:9128) — Nature / Scientific Reports (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [7]Temperament — Icelandic Sheepdog Association of America — Icelandic Sheepdog Association of America (public breed pages) (Accessed 2026-09-09)
Still have questions?
Ask owners on the PawMunity forum — every breed has its own board.
Breed data compiled by PocketPaw from the sources credited on each entry. Text and layout © 2026 NextPath Solutions Limited. Please link to a page rather than copying it.